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Tuesday, 30 August 2016

Time for today's positivity post, and first up its something mundane, but now its done I feel good. That mundane task was, you guessed it, the ironing!! I started, I persevered and its all done, every last item!! Yes..

I am on my second day of no alcohol. I decided yesterday to give it up for a few days, and see how long I can go. Its feeling good right now. I'm not a heavy drinker, but even so, I want to take a break from the old booze, as its healthy.

Tonight, we made a start on the exercise again - I have done 40 crunches, 40 ab pulses, and 15 squats. Not a huge amount, but I have started, and that is what matters :)

So today was bank holiday monday - positive in itself of course, as its an extra long weekend. It also means only 4 days of work!!

As if that wasn't positive enough, we went out last night, and had a take away when we got home. So this morning, I committed the ultimate diet sin - I ate cold curry for breakfast!! Oh I love doing that - not done it in years!!

All the cravings are now out of my system, so from tomorrow, I am back on the wagon - diet, exercise and off the booze. I feel positive about it, albeit a bit hungover today!!

Sunday, 28 August 2016

My Week with The Rolling Stones is over. Its been rock and roll at its classic best. I was too young to really remember the Stones the first time around, but you would have had to be living under a rock to not be aware of them and their music.

I can now say though, that I had no idea how great a live band they appear to be judging by their many live recordings. I can also say that I had no idea just how many of their songs feature in well known films, TV and ads. I knew more of their stuff than I had thought!

So now then, at the end of my week, with seven songs listened to and reviewed, its time to crown the winner - my favourite. So here goes:

My absolute favourite is Gimme Shelter, not least because of which films specifically it features in! Click on the link to see which ones!! So that's it - the end of my week with the classic rock band.

If you want more, and can't wait for the next "My Week With" then check out my previous ones and my singles of the week, plus more on My Music page by clicking here. Happy listening :)

Saturday, 27 August 2016

I am struggling today. Since I woke up, I have been raging hungry. I realise this is because I have not eaten that much of late, but seriously, I have never been so damned hungry!!

I keep thinking "sod it" and deciding to just eat something nice. Then the thought of it being just over 11 weeks to my holiday prevails and I remain resolute.

I had a healthy cereal for breakfast, and then a healthy sandwich for lunch. Tonight I shall be having a healthy low cal tea. I just feel hungry and I just want to eat!!! Ideally chinese takeaway, pizza or chips or better still a big block of chocolate!!

Maybe one day, when I'm slim again. Just not today, I cannot do that today. Or any day for the next 3 weeks and 1 day!! I need motivation and will power.

It all comes down to a battle of will. I can do this. I can and I will :)

So My Week with Pink is over. I have chosen seven tracks, listened to them and watched the video, then reviewed them here. My conclusion is that Pink is up there with the greatest of them. She has been around much longer than I realised, and has continued to make great tracks, and not deviate from who she is.

Pink has a surprising range - deep and dark, to upbeat and cheery, but always with her own particular style. Occasionally straying a little into other's territory - namely the likes of Kelly Clarkson, but always with something a little different. For the most part she is unique, and when she isn't, its because imitation is the greatest of the flattery. Others copy her.

Her songs are always emotional, always powerful, and tend to take you on a journey. So now to the tricky part - putting the seven choices of my week with Pink in ranking. So here goes:

So to Pink I say goodbye for now, though one or two tracks as usual are staying on my playlist. This is what I love most about music - new or old, you can always find something you love to add to your life. A track you have forgotten or didn't hear the first time around, or one you just didn't rate then for reasons unknown! We all transition through life and things change, so do we. Deep eh?

So who next then? Decisions decisions. Check out previous "My Week with" at My Music, where you will also find my single of the week choices. :)

Time for today's positivity post. First of all, there is the fact that it is a long weekend this weekend. So not only is it Saturday, but there is also Sunday and Monday with no work!! Hoorah!!

Its raining, which isn't great, but what it meant was that we decided to get the garage sorted. We would have never gotten around to it if it had been sunny. We have a loft in our garage, and although we haven't yet been here 2 years, its gotten piled up with junk.

Well, not anymore!! We have gone through everything - chucked out all those tins of paint with congealed gunk in the bottom, brushes that are rock hard, cardboard boxes, things with broken parts - proper clear out. It feels good now its done - another one off the list. Plus I found a few things for my mum and dad to have - a pink watering can, some solar lights and an obelisk - they will love them so ever better!

Thursday, 25 August 2016

The Olympics in Rio. Team GB have done fabulous and its been compelling viewing. Rio looks a beautiful place in the world.

Post Brexit the exchange rate is now less that 1 euro to the pound. Oh dear.....

London now has a night tube!! Wow - the amount of times I have been to London and been stranded and had to pay expensive black cab fares. Ok, so there is now Uber, but late night tubes is a great idea.

My New Retro single of the Week is a classic from the Human League with 'Don't You Want Me'.

'Don't you Want Me' was one of the most iconic hits of the early 80's. It was released in 1981, but even now its still being used on TV and in adverts. When I played it to my 11 year old step daughter she proclaimed that she knew this one, so there is proof of its longevity.

The Human League were cool back in the day. Think big shoulder pads, thick black eye liner and vampish lipstick - men and women!! They were categorised as new wave, but think pop with edge in today's parlance. A bit electro synth, and a catchy tune made it stand out from the rest.

This single was in fact the fourth to be taken from their 1981 album Dare. Not only did it reach number 1 in the UK singles chart, but it was the Christmas number 1.

The band themselves hail from Sheffield. They released 2 albums prior to Dare, but it was that third album that bought them to the mainstream. Lead singer Phillip Oakey and vocalist Susan Ann Sulley are the two male and female vocals on this as they sing about their different sides of the story.

The video is very sultry and was intentionally filmed to be in keeping with murder mystery movies, particularly to coincide with the newly launched MTV. Wow - its been around that long - 1981!! This was a new era - the era of the song and the video as iconic. This was a great video, and made icons of the singers and their 80's hair and make up.

The Human League became massive, with this being their biggest hit. They were icons, and this song became a classic. It still sounds amazing, and the way the world has gone retro crazy, the video still looks cool.

Go take a listen and let me know what memories it bought back or what you think if its new to you.

For more singles of the week, retro singles of the week and loads more checkout My Music page here. Happy listening :)

And there we have it, my favourite Britney song is Baby One More Time. Classic Brit. Now my week is over. If you can't wait for my next choice of artist or band (who will it be??) you can check out previous choices at My Music page here.

I hope you have enjoyed it. Pop back later to see who is next. Happy listening :)

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

This week I chose to spend it with Oasis. Each day, I chose one track to listen to, and reviewed it here. Now, at the end of my week, I can report that Oasis were fantastic, and that there music is up there with the all time greats. All seven songs, whilst very different, 2 with Noel on the vocals and 5 of them with Liam doing the honours, are all absolute classics.

This is just my third band choice, and already, I have added many of the songs I have revisited to my playlists. I am thoroughly enjoying such great music, from such amazing artists.

So now comes the tricky bit. With this band in particular, it is going to be very difficult to rank them in any sort of order. However, having come this far, it would be rude not to!

My new Single of the Week is the lovely 'Dancing on My Own' from Calum Scott.

Calum Scott is that guy off last year's Britain's Got Talent. Nope? Me either. However, he has released his version of the Robyn classic, and it is simply breathtaking. He did this on the show, so I am not at all surprised that he has released it - its too good not to.

This single started slow, creeping into the top 40 earlier this year, but its only recently its got more mainstream attention and started to climb.

Calum has beautiful vocals, and they perfectly suit this song's emotional edge. In the original slower version, its simply haunting, and you feel his emotion. In the Tiesto remix, its given more street and bass and it still sounds amazing.

The Robyn version was gorgeous, so to begin with this song is wonderful. Calum though takes it to new levels, with his husky vocals and raw emotion. It just reaches inside you and grabs you.

I absolutely love this song, and although I had never heard of Mr Scott, I now consider myself a fan 100%. Great stuff.

Go take a listen, and let me know what you think. For more music, singles of the week and loads more, check out My Music page here. Happy listening :)

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

My week with Amy Winehouse is over. Seven songs, seven days and now its finished. Its made me fully appreciate just how great a talent she was. She was a true one-off, something special and unique. Gone far too young, and a loss to us all.

I've really listened to these songs, thought about what they meant and what they meant to her. Her music is dark, its full of emotion, and just draws you in.

All that remains to be done now, is to decide which of my seven choices is my favourite. So here goes:

My all time favourite is the fabulous Back to Black. So now, I just need to decide who is next. If you can't wait, then you can find all my previous choices over at My Music page - just click here. Happy listening :)

First up today, I have just found out I have won a competition!!! A year's membership to a Nuffield Gym so feeling very happy with that :)

We have spent several hours in the garden again this week. Today's job was to tackle the wisteria which has gone totally beserk and completely covered the beautiful magnolia behind it. So, we were up on ladders pruning and cutting it back and oh my gosh it looks so much better!!

Its been bugging me for ages, so I am feeling good that we got it done.

Today I got my mojo back a bit too. I've been really struggling to get to grips with being back on a diet, back to exercise, but today, I felt that click back into place, so that is fantastic!! Especially with a posh gym membership coming my way!! Woohoo!!

Time for today's positivity post. Well, its Monday, so the worst of the week is over, so that's a start.

Today hasn't been a diet disaster - I resisted the temptation to buy chocolate and crap so that's good. I have managed to at least control myself, so its a good start.

I've had quite a productive day - got a few things done off my "to do" list, and am starting to feel like I'm getting back into a routine.

Its only a small thing, but I had a lovely hot shower this evening, washed my hair and I feel all fresh and clean. That always makes me feel nice - I have a shower every day, but its usually first thing in the morning. Having one at night gives you time to relax and really enjoy the experience, so that felt good.

So today was just a normal day, but still some positives and that's what counts :)

The Olympics. Team GB are doing amazingly well!! I have found myself watching the rowing, the athletics, the gymnastics, the speedway, hockey, equestrian events, swimming, weighlifting - I am literally obsessed!! So addictive, and so good to see our olympians doing so well. I don't want it to end.

Ray Donovan. Wow. Series 2 watched and it is even darker. Marriage on the rocks, murder, betrayal, blackmail, family strife, phewf!! Series 3 still to come. Whatever is going to happen next? Liev Schreiber is so good in this.

Jaws 1 and 2. I couldn't help it, they are classic shark fests. Enough said.....

Celeb BB. Ok, calling some of this year's crop "celebs" is pushing it a bit, but its the most insane series yet!! Swearing, inappropriate behaviour, bullying - literally making me want to throw things at the telly this time!! Compelling viewing but not for the easily offended that's for sure!!

Time for today's positivity post and today has been a good day. I have had a great weight loss this morning - 5 pounds!! Whoop!!

Granted, from the 3 day diet so it may well go back up a bit, but even so.... Today I decided to be healthy, rather than just low fat, but still sensible. To that end, I have had a lovely evening experimenting in the kitchen.

Tonight I have made choc bites consisting of dark chocolate, nuts, dried fruit and coconut flakes and seeds. They are delicious and good for you - double bonus. My other half has been sneaking them in the kitchen so I know they are good!!

I have also cooked a chilli, loaded courgette skins, stuffed peppers and hasselback potatoes!! I can cook after all :)

Thursday, 18 August 2016

Time for today's positivity post. So what good stuff has happened today?

Ok, well to begin with, I feel like I have lost weight, so that's positive. Its Day 3 of the 3 day diet, so I probably have - weigh in tomorrow, but I feel better.

Its a lovely sunny day, which always feels good, so that's positive. I am watching a great TV program - first episode of a new series and I am really enjoying it - its called 11.22.63 and its based on a Stephen King book I have actually read.

I'm getting organised - getting back into a routine, and feeling much more confident than of late. So today, its all good :)

Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Right then, its been a while since I posted my last Daily Positivity Post but its back and I am feeling much better than of late so here goes.

Today's reason to be positive is that I have knocked an item off my bucket list. I have had a belly button piercing. Totally unplanned, and therefore no time whatsoever to get all stressed over it!!

I also had my nails done, so I feel better and more groomed. I had a drop on the scales this morning, which is just as well as I nearly fainted on my Monday weigh in, so at least its going back the right way now!!

So, there we are. A few reasons to be positive. Oh, and its been a lovely sunny day, which also helps :)